17 year-old Silas Mayes, represented by Food Safety Lawyer Ron Simon, is speaking out. His case follows on the heels of the national media attention raised by Kamberlyn Bowler, a young softball player, who was life flighted to Colorado Children’s Hospital and remains hospitalized and on dialysis. Both were sicked in the McDonald’s e. coli outbreak linked to tainted Quarter Pounders. Both are represented by Ron Simon, who represents about three dozen families in this outbreak.
Silas, an avid skateboarder, purchased a Quarter Pounder from his local McDonalds located at 1212 North Ave, in Grand Junction Colorado, on October 7th of 2024, and became ill on October 10th.
After attempting to “ride out” his illness, his father and mother (Christopher and Lera) were forced to take him to Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Hospital for treatment, and it was soon discovered that he was positive for E. coli 0157:H7, a Shiga Toxin-Producing e. coli, otherwise known as STEC. He suffered bloody stools/diarrhea (STEC’s most prominent side-effect), severe abdominal pain, nausea, headaches and lethargy – all common symptoms for E. coli 0157:H7. His physicians treated him with ondansetron (Zofran), ketorolac, dicyclomine, and Fentanyl citrate.
Shortly after his diagnosis, because E. coli 0157:H7 is a reportable disease under state law, the Mesa County Health Department was notified and began their investigation. They called the family and confirmed he had consumed a Quarter Pounder during the incubation period.
Silas is still experiencing the lingering effects of his E. coli illness – fatigue, lack of appetite, etc. He has lost 10 pounds as a result of his illness.
